The average Medicare beneficiary pays 18 percent of his or her annualincome, or about $2,370, for out-of-pocket health care costs — over $200more than in 1997, says an AARP official. These costs include buying supplementalinsurance, known as , to pay for deductibles and co-payments notcovered under the original Medicare plan, as well as prescription drugsand services not usually covered under Medicare, such as dental, hearingand vision care.